Builds
IS YOUR REAREND TOO BIG?
By Christian Sturtz, [email protected]
Photos by Christian Sturtz
If you are trying to swap in one-ton axles or stretch your vehicle’s wheelbase, you will quickly find that the gas tank is a problem. Thankfully, GenRight Off Road has many options for you. GenRight tanks are designed for off-road use only, so you will want to check for regulations in your area. In our LJ application, we are trying to retain the stock wheelbase, but even with the stock wheelbase, our Currie 60 rear axle would not fit.
We chose to go with a GenRight crawler gas tank because it has the needed clearance for our application, a capacity close to stock size, and the install is relatively simple. We started by removing the inner fender liner and filler inlet on the driver’s side. Then, we unhooked the fuel pressure line and two vapor lines. Next, the tank was unbolted and lowered several inches. (*Tip: be careful if the tank is full, its best to do this when there is less than a ¼ tank of gas) Finally, the electrical plug was unhooked, and the tank was removed from the vehicle. The fuel pump assembly and evaporative hoses were then swapped to the new GenRight tank. We chose to install a new pump because the LJ we are working on has around 180k miles, and the fuel pump was original.
We then slid the tank into position, raised the tank, and bolted the rear into place. At this point, we marked the mounting position for the front holes. The front uses a different mounting position and requires the frame to be marked and drilled. Next, the tank was lowered, holes were drilled, and sleeves slid into position. Finally, the tank was raised and bolted into place. All the hoses were reconnected, and the fender liner was reinstalled. The tank was filled with gas prior to starting.
Not only does the tank provide more clearance for the Currie 60, but it has a robust skid plate that can handle the abuse of any off-road adventure. GenRight has many tank options to suit your needs, from a large capacity tank to a tank for an extended wheelbase. Now you don’t have to question the size of your rear end.
Parts Used:
GenRight:
Crawler Tank (GST-2002-2)
Sleeve Kit (GSTFS)
O’Reilly’s:
Precision Fuel Pump (A30259)
Sources:
GenRight
4535 Runway Street
Simi Valley, CA 93063
1-805-584-8635
GEARWRENCH
APEX Tool Group
910 Ridgebrook Rd. (Suite 200)
Sparks, MD 21152
1-800-688-8949
O’Reilly Auto Parts
233 S. Patterson Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802
1-888-327-7153